As the maestro of Patient Relations at Brooklyn’s Maimonides Hospital, Douglas Jablon has cut through medical and bureaucratic red tape for thousands of patients — be they Haitian, Russian, Chinese, or native Brooklynites, rabbis, imams, or nuns. The name of Jablon’s game is respect for his fellow human beings, and a genuine desire to ease the pain and fear that accompany hospitalization. The mission and vision of a Brooklyn legend.

A new chapter of political intrigue is set to open as the reelected incumbents and newly elected freshmen take their places in the US House of Representatives for the 112th Congress: Congressional Redistricting. Mishpacha sampled opinions and perspectives of askanim in four key states with large Jewish populations around the country to learn the opportunities and the risks for the frum community and how can we make our voices heard.

Mystical powers, elevated meditations, flames of the spirit — the holy menorahs of the rebbes and tzaddikim of the past were a vehicle for bringing down esoteric light into the darkness of exile and persecution. Some of these special menorahs are still being used, passed down through generations and wandering through galus like the righteous ones who fashioned them. Eight menorahs for eight days — and may the holy light continue to push away the final darkness.

This week, the Jews of Antwerp’s Machzikei Hadas community went to the polls. The language on the ballot slips: Yiddish and Flemish. The aim: to choose a new chief rabbi. Not every community carries out official elections for the post of chief rabbi. Then again, Antwerp is far from a typical Jewish community. The chosen candidate will fill the void left with the passing of Rav Chaim Kreiswirth, ztz”l, and serve as the linchpin uniting the varied strains of a unique and historic community.

It might have been Chanukah, but in 1939 Kovno, miracles seemed in short supply. Yet it was precisely during Chanukah that the seeds for a great miracle were planted in, of all places, a Kovno gourmet food shop. Mishpacha tracked down “Zalke Gelkind,” who now uses the name Solly Ganor, at his Ramat HaSharon home. Now a wizened octogenarian Solly remembers Chanukah, 1939, when his “chance” meeting with the Japanese consul-general led to the rescue of some 6,000 Jews, including the entire Mir yeshivah.